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Glossary
Authentication
Process of verifying the identity of the user at the other end of a link. Authentication is
accomplished by using a link key stored in the device memory or by a user PIN
(called pairing).
Authorization
Process of deciding if a requesting device is allowed to have access to a service on
another device. Authorization always includes authentication.
Bluetooth Device Address
Every Bluetooth transceiver is issued a unique 48-bit Bluetooth Device Address which
is used for quite a few algorithms when exchanging data between devices. The
Bluetooth Device Address is used for hop sequence generation and many error
detection code generation schemes.
Bluetooth Unit
Any device such as a mobile handset, PDA, or PC card that is equipped with suitable
Bluetooth hardware needed to establish wireless communication between devices.
Bonding / Pairing
The creation of a semi-permanent (or permanent) relationship between two devices.
The relationship is established when the user enters a passkey with the explicit
purpose of creating a bond between two devices. This procedure is different from
authenticating using a passkey in which the user is requested to enter a passkey
during the establishment of a link.
Inquiry / Discovery
Process by which a Bluetooth unit transmits inquiry messages in order to discover
the other Bluetooth units that are active within the coverage area. Any Bluetooth unit
that received the inquiry message may respond to the inquiring device with informa-
tion about its Bluetooth unit and its host device.
PIN / Passkey
Personal Identification Number. A type of password that is unique to a user.
Piconet
A network of devices connected using Bluetooth technology. A piconet may consist of
two to eight devices. In a piconet, there will always be one master while the others
are slaves.
Trusted device / Paired device
A device that has been authenticated.
Profiles
Bluetooth software emulates various types of wired links it is designed to replace.
Each of these emulations are known as profiles. Examples of profiles are serial port,
LAN and dial-up networking.
